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Labour's Mike Amesbury says he felt threatened' after footage appears to show him berating man lying on roadThe MP Mike Amesbury said he will cooperate with any inquiries" police have as officers investigate reports of an alleged assault involving the Labour backbencher in Cheshire.Amesbury, 55, said an incident on Saturday had left him feeling threatened" after footage circulated online appearing to show him berating a man who was lying on the road before a bystander pushed him away. Continue reading...

Poll result could determine whether country veers towards Russia or continues path to join EUGeorgia's ruling party and the pro-western opposition both claimed victory in a pivotal parliamentary election widely seen as a make-or-break vote for the country's long-held aspiration for EuU membership.Voters in the Caucasus country of almost 4 million people on Saturday headed to the polls in an election depicted as a watershed moment that would determine whether one of the once most pro-western former Soviet states would veer towards a more authoritarian, Russia-aligned path. Continue reading...

Face-to-face military confrontation on each other's soil has now been normalisedFor years, Israel and Iran have waged a shadow war", attacking each other indirectly using proxy forces, assassinations, informants, spies and hybrid, non-military covert means. Now this undeclared, largely silent war is undisguisedly out in the open. It's become a shooting war, it's noisy, it's escalating, and there's no end in sight.This is not to say Israel's large-scale, three-wave air assault on Tehran and other targets inside Iran early on Saturday morning means the two enemies are now engaged in all-out conflict. This is not yet the full-scale, region-wide conflagration so many in the Middle East fear. That may be coming, but it's still in the future. Continue reading...

London's Neal's Yard Dairy swindled out of 950 wheels of award-winning cheddars delivered to alleged fraudsterThe celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has encouraged cheese lovers to help police catch scammers who defrauded a London dairy out of more than 300,000 worth of English and Welsh cheddar.Neal's Yard Dairy, a distributor and retailer of British artisan cheese, delivered 22 tonnes of award-winning clothbound cheddar to the alleged fraudster posing as a wholesale distributor for a large French retailer before realising it had been duped. Continue reading...

Paper has been pilloried for what some call anticipatory obedience' in preparation of a new president next yearThe Washington Post's cartoon team has taken a measure of revenge on the newspaper's decision to avoid making a formal presidential endorsement with a dark formless image clearly designed to skewer the Democracy Dies in Darkness" slogan that the outlet adopted during billionaire Jeff Bezos's ownership.The image was published hours after it was revealed that Bezos, who has owned the paper since 2012, had pulled the plug on a prepared endorsement of Kamala Harris over Donald Trump in the 5 November election. Continue reading...

Local safety chief's stark advice as visitors return to Grindavik - with more activity expectedWhy do people want to see Grindavik? Gunnar Schram, the police chief for Suurnes, the region of Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula that has erupted six times since last December, laughs at the question.The allure of getting close to an active volcano is so strong that even the person tasked with ensuring people behave around the eruption site at Grindavik, which opened up to the public on Monday for the first time since the town started cracking open on 10 November last year, cannot deny its majesty. Continue reading...

Victim, in his 30s, was beaten by group who stole phone, wallet and keys after ordering him to pull into laybyA driver had his jaw and eye socket broken after being robbed when his car was pulled over by a fake police car after a motorway collision.The incident happened last Sunday evening at about 9.15pm, Thames Valley police said. Continue reading...

Prospect of drinking elderflower juice at a party is terrifying but presenter admits he fancied living a bit longer'Jeremy Clarkson has spoken of having to adapt to a new way of life after having extremely urgent" heart surgery.The former Top Gear host was recently fitted with two stents, which improve blood flow to the heart. Continue reading...

The government is facing calls to cease trading with DP World because of its partnership with Putin's northern sea routeMinisters are facing calls to review the UK's financial ties to the multinational logistics company DP World over its business deals in Russia.The business announced a 1bn expansion of the London Gateway port earlier this month, despite a row over the transport secretary, Louise Haigh, calling its ferry subsidiary, P&O Ferries, a rogue operator". Continue reading...

Government has resisted calls to say sorry for slave trade or colonialism but has done so for other historical wrongsAs leaders gathered at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) in the Pacific nation of Samoa this week, they hoped that the UK government and King Charles might use the summit as an opportunity to issue an apology for Britain's colonial past and discuss reparatory justice.While their concerns were acknowledged, the UK stressed that it would not pay reparations, and while Keir Starmer called the slave trade abhorrent", the government is yet to make a formal apology. Continue reading...

Labour's policy to smash the gangs' is not yet having an impact, Home Office figures showThe number of people who have crossed the Channel in small boats so far this year has exceeded the total number who arrived in the whole of 2023, according to figures published by the Home Office.As of Friday, 29,578 people had made the crossing, compared with 29,437 last year. It is unlikely that the 2022 total of 45,755 people who arrived in small boats will be exceeded by the end of December 2024. Continue reading...

Anti-racism counter-protesters and Justice for Chris Kaba campaigners also take to capital's streetsThousands of Tommy Robinson supporters have gathered in central London for a protest which the political activist will miss after he was remanded into custody by police.The Metropolitan police had put a condition on Robinson's Unite the Kingdom rally that it could not begin its procession to Parliament Square before 1pm. Continue reading...

Outgoing premier Steven Miles concedes he cannot form majority government despite a last-minute surge in vote

US and European states urge Tehran not to respond, while Middle Eastern countries condemn Israeli operation

Repeated blackouts leave residents concerned about food, water supply and Cuba's futureMaria Elena Cardenas is 76 and lives in a municipal shelter on Amargura Street in Havana's colonial old town. The building has an elegant past, but for the last few days Maria has been cooking with sticks she had found on the street.You know, we Cubans manage the best we can," she said. She lives in the shelter because her home collapsed, a regular occurrence in the poorest, oldest parts of the beautiful city. Continue reading...

With a very narrow majority to protect Crisafulli will have no wriggle room to tolerate internal descent - and that's already begun

Three-hour long interview caused delay in ex-president's arrival to Michigan rally, leaving attendees in cold for hoursDonald Trump sat down for three hours on Friday with Joe Rogan, telling the US's most-listened-to podcaster that the biggest mistake he made during his presidency was hiring disloyal people".Those comments - which also described neocons", or neoconservatives who generally aim to promote democracy, as bad people" - came days after the Trump White House's former chief of staff John Kelly said the Republican nominee in the 5 November election met the definition of a fascist. Kelly also said Trump had no understanding of the US constitution and made admiring statements about generals commanded by Adolf Hitler, whose regime systematically murdered 6 million Jews as part of the Holocaust during the second world war. Continue reading...

Singer says America is on the brink of history' as Kamala Harris said Trump would seek to make state's abortion ban nationwideBeyonce lent her star power to Kamala Harris at a high-octane rally in Texas on Friday, declaring that the America was on the brink of history" as the vice-president warned the state's near-total abortion ban could become the law of the land if Donald Trump is elected.For all the men and women in this room, and watching around the country, we need you," Beyonce told a roaring crowd of 30,000 people at the open-air Shell Energy stadium in her native Houston. Continue reading...

Israeli forces say military targets hit in Iran in response to continuous' attacks on Israel, as UK and US warn against escalation

Find out who's up and who's down in the latest US presidential election opinion pollsOn 21 July, Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Kamala Harris. This historic move changed the landscape of the election and how many felt about the race. As the election enters its final weeks, Guardian US is averaging national and state polls to see how the two candidates are faring. We will update our averages once a week, or more if there is major news. Continue reading...

Ghana's foreign minister since 2017, Botchwey supports calls for reparations for transatlantic slavery and colonialismCommonwealth members have appointed Ghana's foreign minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, as the new secretary general, on the final day of the group's summit in Samoa.Botchwey, a former lawmaker who has served as Ghana's foreign minister since 2017, has supported calls for reparations for transatlantic slavery and colonialism - a position that was also shared by the two other candidates who had vied for the position. Continue reading...

High-stakes retaliatory attack could bring Middle East closer to full-scale regional war

Man, 21, to appear in court on Saturday after Deonte Mowatt-Slater died in IslingtonA man has been charged with the murder of a 16-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in Islington, north London.Deonte Mowatt-Slater was found with injuries in Courtauld Road shortly after midnight on Tuesday and died at the scene, the Metropolitan police said. Continue reading...

Treasury plans 5bn total investment in housing supply and reduction in discounts under right-to-buy schemeThe Treasury has announced an extra 500m for social homes in the budget, in what appears to be a compromise with the housing department, led by Angela Rayner, over the scale of ambition required in the sector.The promise of an additional 500m for the government's affordable homes programme (AHP) is intended to add up to 5,000 extra social homes. The Treasury said it will bring total investment in housing supply to 5bn. Continue reading...

UK prime minister stresses need to avoid further regional escalation in the Middle East

Manifesto really clear', prime minister says amid reports that national insurance increases are plannedKeir Starmer has denied misleading the public over tax rises during the election campaign, amid reports that the government is planning to increase employers' national insurance contributions.Asked if he had misled voters by not warning them about the billions of pounds in tax rises expected in the budget on Wednesday, the prime minister said: No, we were very clear about the tax rises that we would necessarily have to make whatever the circumstances ... I listed them I don't know how many times in the campaign. Continue reading...

Figures for 2024 show 46 private schools have closed with 77 opening, despite reports claiming VAT threat has toppled some schoolsMore than 80 private schools closed every year in England on average over the last decade, official data has shown, with no apparent increase in the trend since Labour announced it was imposing VAT on fees.A number of media reports have highlighted the closure of some private schools as supposedly being caused by the policy, which is intended to raise money for more teachers in state schools. Continue reading...

UK government stresses it does not pay reparations and said before Chogm summit that issue was not on agendaCommonwealth leaders have resolved that the time has come" for a conversation on reparatory justice despite the UK's insistence that the issue was not on their agenda.The language, agreed at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) on Saturday, is a blow to the UK, which wanted to avoid reparatory justice being mentioned. Continue reading...

Revamp of Oxford Street store follows opening of Fenwick's largest beauty hall outside London' in NewcastleWith their perfectly groomed and liveried assistants being stood down during the Covid pandemic, it seemed the department store beauty hall may have had its day. But the high-street temples of pampering are making a comeback as Britons prioritise looking good.This week, as part of a wider revamp of its Oxford Street store, John Lewis opened a new-look beauty hall that is almost 25% bigger and rammed with 175 brands. Continue reading...

Updated accountability measures aim to get school leavers to look at wider range of institutions and vocational optionsThe government will no longer measure schools in England on how many of their students go to Russell Group or Oxbridge universities, in an effort to encourage school leavers towards a wider range of universities and vocational options.The Department for Education's updated accountability measures for students aged 16 to 18 state that the department will not include the percentage of school leavers who progress to Russell Group universities, or to Oxford and Cambridge universities, as part of each school's student destinations data. Continue reading...

Observers say country's democracy at stake after Moscow-aligned ruling party's threats to ban oppositionGeorgians are heading to polls in a critical election that could determine whether one of the once most pro-western former Soviet states will veer towards a more authoritarian, Russia-aligned path.For the past three decades, Georgia - a country of 3.6 million people nestled in the Caucasus mountains - has maintained strong pro-western aspirations, with polls showing up to 80% of its residents favour joining the EU. Continue reading...

Price cap set by Great Britain's regulator rose to 1,717 a year this month but there are cheaper fixed dealsThere are plenty of fixed energy deals that are cheaper than the current Ofgem price cap, so now is a good time to lock into a lower tariff before the start of winter.That was the message from some energy experts this week. Continue reading...

Exclusive: family say case of Kay Melhuish is stark reminder of the dangers of criminalising vulnerable womenThe daughter of a vulnerable woman who took her own life in prison after being left without clean underwear for 10 days and denied phone calls with loved ones has called for urgent reform of England's justice system.A jury at Avon coroner's court concluded last week that Eastwood Park prison in Gloucestershire failed to provide for Kay Melhuish's basic human needs" and that neglect contributed to her death in July 2022 after gross failings" in her care. Continue reading...

All-party Parliamentary Group for Afrikan Reparations to discuss how to bring justice to countries blighted by slaveryPoliticians and campaigners are due to host the second national conference on reparations this weekend, as the issue continues to dominate the Commonwealth summit.The All-party Parliamentary Group for Afrikan Reparations (APPG-AR), a group of cross-party MPs, plans to build on the growing momentum to provide reparations and justice to countries blighted by transatlantic slavery. Continue reading...

NSW police say two crime scenes secured after reports two light planes collided near Oakdale

MPs with children in family homes close to London favour shorter days while others want more time in their constituenciesMPs tasked with modernising parliament are divided over family-friendly hours, with some favouring shorter days to return home to their children and others hoping for shorter periods away from their constituencies.Working hours will be one of a number of areas examined by the House of Commons modernisation committee, as well as driving up standards and culture and methods of voting in parliament. Continue reading...

Many believe new offensive, along with tightening of siege, is following blueprint for removing remaining populationHospitals shelled, shelters set alight, men and boys separated from their families and taken away in military vehicles; a year into Israel-Hamas war, civilians clinging on in northern Gaza say the situation is worse than it has ever been.About 400,000 people have remained in Gaza City and surrounding towns since Israel cut the area off from the rest of the territory and issued evacuation orders. Some are unwilling to leave home, afraid they will never be allowed to return; others decided to stay put for the sake of elderly or disabled family members. Civilians have reported that the routes to the relative safety of the south are unsafe, citing sniper fire and detention by Israeli forces. Continue reading...

This blog is closed - follow the news on our new liveblog hereLebanon's health minister, Firass Abiad, has told reporters that over 163 rescuers and health workers had been killed and 272 injured in Israeli airstrikes during more than a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.Hezbollah, the Iranian backed Lebanese militant group, began firing rockets into northern Israel in support of Palestinians on 7 October 2023, the day after its ally Hamas's attack on southern Israel, in which about 1,200 people were killed.We have been very clear that this cannot lead - should not lead - to a protracted campaign and that Israel must take the necessary steps to avoid civilian casualties and not endanger UN peacekeepers or the Lebanese armed forces. Continue reading...

Upgraded Triton Island outpost in the Paracel archipelago expands China's surveillance capabilities in the regionThe Chinese military is constructing a new counter-stealth radar system on a disputed reef in the South China Sea that would significantly expand its surveillance capabilities in the region, satellite imagery suggests.Analysis by Chatham House suggests China is upgrading its outpost on Triton Island, on the south-west corner of the Paracel archipelago, building what may be a launching point for an anti-ship missile battery, as well as the sophisticated radar system. Continue reading...

About 200,000 e-cigarettes found in Box Hill South after officers were told of reported burglary on Thursday

Keir Starmer to announce expansion in region that will also include business club to increase economic tiesThe UK will increase its military and economic presence in the Indo-Pacific to support regional stability, Keir Starmer will announce on Saturday.In an effort to counter China's influence, ministers will expand the Royal Navy's presence in the region and carry out more joint patrols with Pacific island nations. Continue reading...

Exclusive: move will cap amount that can be deducted from benefit payments to repay short-term loans and debtsMore than 1m of the UK's poorest households will be 420 a year better off on average as a result of a change to universal credit set to be announced in next week's budget.The measure is intended to primarily help the worst-off families, and will be seen as a way for ministers to head off criticism over decisions to cut winter fuel allowance for most pensioners and maintain the two-child benefit cap. Continue reading...

Since 2017 in NSW, 120 officers have been charged with domestic violence offences. But advocates believe many victims are too scared to report

VP party holds Maduro regime responsible for death of Edwin Santos who had been picked up by security officialsA major Venezuelan opposition party has said that one of its activists was murdered this week after being detained by security officials in the western state of Apure.Edwin Santos was murdered after being abducted by members of the state security forces" on Wednesday, Voluntad Popular (VP) party said, blaming the iron-fisted regime of the leftwing president, Nicolas Maduro. Continue reading...

Suspect is being held on suspicion of attempted murder after incident in DagenhamA man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a woman and two girls were stabbed in east London, police said.Police were called to reports of a stabbing in Dagenham at about 5.30pm on Friday. Continue reading...

Employees outraged at chicken-shit' move that breaks 30-year precedent, alleging Jeff Bezos quashed Harris supportThere was uproar and outrage among the Washington Post's current and former staffers and other notable figures in the world of American media after the newspaper's leaders on Friday chose to not endorse any candidate in the US presidential election.The newspaper's publisher, Will Lewis, announced on Friday that for the first time in over 30 years, the paper's editorial board would not be endorsing a candidate in this year's presidential election, nor in future presidential elections. Continue reading...

The musician was a founding member of the influential band and died surrounded by his family and full of love'Phil Lesh, the influential bassist of the Grateful Dead who powered many of the jam band's touring incarnations after the 1995 death of Jerry Garcia, has died. He was 84.Lesh's death was announced on his Instagram page. Phil Lesh, bassist and founding member of The Grateful Dead, passed peacefully this morning," the caption reads. He was surrounded by his family and full of love. Phil brought immense joy to everyone around him and leaves behind a legacy of music and love. We request that you respect the Lesh family's privacy at this time." Continue reading...

Newspaper condemned for chicken-shit' decision on White House race as staffers say they are deeply concerned'

TV presenter praises and thanks staff at Birmingham women's hospital for exceptional' care his partner receivedThe comedian Joe Lycett has announced he has become a father to a baby boy.Lycett, 36, shared a picture on Instagram of him holding the infant, whom he said was born at Birmingham women's hospital. Continue reading...

Election workers contacted the district attorney's office after noticing several suspicious applicationsOfficials in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, are investigating about 2,500 voter registrations after election workers discovered signs that they may be fraudulent.The registrations under investigation were dropped off in two batches just before Pennsylvania's voter-registration deadline on Monday. Election workers contacted the district attorney's office after they noticed several suspicious applications that contained the same handwriting, signatures for voters that didn't match what was on file, and inaccurate personal identifier information, including names, addresses, social security and driver's license numbers, said Heather Adams, the district attorney, during a press conference on Friday. Continue reading...